Revenue - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 906,266	$ 1,016,927
Private Pay [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	742,761	836,344
Government Reimbursement [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	135,239	152,949
Other Third-Party Payor Programs [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	28,266	27,634
Retirement Centers [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	158,397	172,620
Retirement Centers [Member] | Private Pay [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	157,507	171,617
Retirement Centers [Member] | Government Reimbursement [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	890	1,003
Retirement Centers [Member] | Other Third-Party Payor Programs [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Assisted Living [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	532,280	590,537
Assisted Living [Member] | Private Pay [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	514,264	569,953
Assisted Living [Member] | Government Reimbursement [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	18,016	20,584
Assisted Living [Member] | Other Third-Party Payor Programs [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
CCRCs Rental [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	105,069	141,798
CCRCs Rental [Member] | Private Pay [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	70,721	94,623
CCRCs Rental [Member] | Government Reimbursement [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	23,706	32,828
CCRCs Rental [Member] | Other Third-Party Payor Programs [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	10,642	14,347
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	110,520	111,972
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member] | Private Pay [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	269	151
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member] | Government Reimbursement [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	92,627	98,534
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member] | Other Third-Party Payor Programs [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 17,624	$ 13,287